Envelop-sealing device.



G. F. HANSEN. ENVELOP SEALING DEVICE.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CFHwnsem C. P. HANSEN.

ENVELOP SEALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY10,1913.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MWwooeo I O. F. HANSEN.

ENVELOP SEALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1918 Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

8 M um 1 60-2 CFHa/nsem 6 Ho an a STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. HANSEN, 0]? PORT LUDLOW, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO EYVIND N. HANSEN, ONE-THIRID T0 SIGUR-ID R. HANSEN, AND ONE-THIRD TO FRITJOF C. HANSEN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

ENVELOP-SEALING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. HANsnN, a citizen of Norway, residing at Port Ludlow, in the county of Jefferson and State of l/Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Sealing Devices, of which the following is a speci fication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for sealing envelops and has for its object to provide an extremely simple and convenient machine of this character which may be quickly operated to seal the envelop fiap upon the body of the envelop.

Another object resides in the provision of a pivotally mounted pad or platen arranged in a water receptacle, said platen being adapted to retain a quantity of water, the flap of the envelop being moved over the surface of the platen and then disposed between suitable pressure members to cause the flap to adhere to the body of the envelop.

A further object is to provide pressure rollers adapted to receive the envelop between them after the gummed surface of the flap has been moistened, and means for manually rotating said rollers to force the envelop between them.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novel features of construction combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a ma chine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the machine taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is an end view; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the roller operating gear. Fig. 7 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of the moistening pad.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 5 indicates a base which may be of any desired form and constructed of any suitable material. Upon this base the casing 6 of the machine is mounted. This casing is preferably formed in two sections 7 and 8 respectively. The section 8 comprises the two vertical end members 9 which are con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10, 1913.

Patented Mar. 3., 1914. Serial No. 766,820.

nected by the longitudinal plate 10. This plate is adapted to be arranged upon the rear upper end of the lower or main section '7 of the casing. The section 7 acts as a water reservoir and is adapted to be kept about half full of water. The front 7 of this lower section of the casing is disposed inwardly of th forward edge of the base 5, and upon the base between the ends of the casing 6 a plurality of plates 11 are arranged, said plates forming stamp compartments 12. These compartments are preferably arranged at each side of the longitudinal center of the machine and are adapted to receive stamps of different denominations. Thus the stamps may be conveniently arranged for application to the envelops after they have been properly sealed.

A pad or platen 14 is arranged in the forward part of the main section 7 of the casing which forms the water container or reservoir. This pad is sectorshaped in cross section as clearly shown in Fig. 3 and comprises the triangular end members 15 which are connected by the longitudinal body plate 16. Upon this body plate one or more layers of felt or other fibrous water-retaining material 17 is secured in any approved manner. The front longitudinal edge of the plate 16 is bent to form a trough 18 which is perforated as shown at 19. This edge of the plate is formed with a bead 20 which is adapted to engage upon the upper edge of the front wall 7 of the casing. The rear edge of the plate 16 when the pad is in proper position in the operation of the ma chine engages the front rounded edge 10 of the plate 10 which forms the bottom of the upper section 8 of the casing. The arms 15 at their apexes are formed with studs 21 which extend through the end walls of the casing section 7. To one of these studs 21 a knurled head or finger piece 22 is secured. By means of this head 22 the sector-shaped pad may be turned or rotated to dispose the same in the water contained in the reservoir. In this manner the felt 17 may be periodically wet so as to at all times provide a proper amount of moisture and thus insure th adhesion of the envelop flap when passed through the pressing members, the detail construction of which will now be set forth.

The pressure members are in the form of rollers 23 which are disposed in parallel re lation above the moistening pad 14: and are rotatably mounted between the vertical end members 9 of the upper casing section 8. T he upper roller be moved in a vertical plane with relation to the lower roller the peripheries of said rollers being normally held in yielding engagement with each other by means of a spring 2% arranged on each end of the casing. One end of each of these springs is fixed to the casing wall 9 while the other end bears upon the trunnions 23, by .means of which the roller is rotatably mounted in the ends of the casing section 8. The tension of these springs is exerted in a downward direction upon the trunnions 23' and thus serve to hold the upper roller yieldingly upon the lower roller. Short slots 25 are provided in the end members 9 in which the trunnions 23 move. Thus as the envelop is inserted between the engaged rollers, the upper rollers will be moved very Slightly to permit of the passage of the envelop the springs 24 tending to force the roller down and thus exerting considerable pressure upon the gummed flap of the envelop whereby it will be caused to adhere to the body of the envelop.

The pressure rollers 23 are adapted to be manually operated, and to this end a pinion 26 is fixed upon the trunnion of the lower roller at one end thereof and exteriorly of the casing. A stud shaft 27 is secured in the end wall 9 below and in vertical alinement with the roller trunnion. Upon this stud an operating head 28 is rotatably mounted. This operating head is in the form of a disk which is provided with an annular circumscribing flange 28. This flange has formed upon its interior surface gear teeth 29 which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of the pinion 26. This operating head is also formed at diametrically opposite points and at its outer edge with the finger pieces 80. These finger pieces are angularly disposed in opposite directions and are adapted to be engaged by the finger of the operator to rotate the head 28 and through the engagement with the teeth 29 of said head with the pinion 26 to thereby cause the opposite rotation of the rollers 23. A stop pin 31 extends laterally from the end of the casing and is adapted to engage the operators finger to limit the movement of the operating head. A one-half revolution of the head 28 is sufficient to cause the passage of the envelop between the pressure rollers and when the operators finger engages with the stop 51 the other of the finger pieces 30 is in a proper position to be engaged for the next rotary movement of the operating head.

As the envelops are discharged from between the pressure rollers, they are adapted to be deposited upon a rack 32 which is slidably disposed beneath the casing 6 and is adapted to be extended from the back of said casin This rack is of any desired construction and is adapted to receive and support a large number of envelops which have been sealed. The envelope are then removed and stamped in the usual manner.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and operation of my improved sealing machine will be readily understood.

T 1e device is of comparatively simple construction and may be manufactured at a low cost.

The arrangement of the parts and the ease of operation of the machine permit of the sealing of a large number of envelops in a comparatively short time and entirely eliminates the necessity of applying the tongue to the gummed flaps of the envelops as is very commonly done.

While I have shown and described the preferable embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same is susceptible of a great many minor modifications without materially departing from the essential for tures or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A machine of the character described comprising a casing provided with a water reservoir, a sector-shaped moistening pad rotatably mounted between the ends of said casing and movable into and out of the water in said reservoir, said pad embodying a curved longitudinally extending lip adapted for engagement with the upper edge of the front wall of the casing to support the pad in position for engagement with the flap of an envelop, and means for rotating said pad.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a casing provided with a water reservoir, said casing having an opening in its front wall, a sector-shaped moistening pad rotatably mounted between the ends of the casing and movable into and out of the water contained therein. said pad embodying a plate provided with a trough having perforations therein and a curved lip projecting outwardly from the trough and adapted for engagement with the upper edge of the front wall of the casing to support the pad. in the opening therein, and means for rotating said pad.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. HANSEN.

Witnesses C. N. CUNNINGHAM, H. PAULsnN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eaten Washlngton. D. C. 

